futurecoach

Thiero put a statement out today. From his statement, it sounds more like him wanting to test the NBA draft waters than actually transferring. Definitely left the possibility of returning to UK. 
 

1 hour ago, mcpapa said:

Follow futurecoach for more team-building advice. 

Ha yeah that didn’t work out to well. 🤣😂

2 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

It is all about defense for me FC. The teams still playing, including Alabama, are playing defense better than UK did at any time. If you want to hang your hat on the hope UK would have played better defense, that is on you.

As I said that exact same thing could have been said about Bama. Bama defense has been bad all year and I believe was ranked behind UK. Let’s not act like their defense has been much better in the tournament. In the first round against Charleston they gave up 96 points. Even more points than what UK gave up in its lost to Oakland. Then against UNC they gave up 87 points and 54 points in a single half. So it’s not like they are playing much better defense now besides for one game. The only difference is their offense didn’t lay an egg like UK did. Bama has been a great offensive team all year and a bad defensive team all year. Their offense kept playing great, even when giving up 96 and 87 points in two of its wins. 

4 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

That was then. I don't think end of the year UK beats either of those teams last night. 

Well obviously if you base it on UKs last two games, you would be 100% correct. Funny thing is end of year UK was looking really good those last few weeks. Then just fell on their face starting with SEC tournament. 
 

With that said I do think if UK would have pulled out that first round game and kind of got that anxiousness and monkey off their back. That they probably would have looked much better than the tense version we saw in that first round game. 

4 hours ago, FrankNicodemus said:

Really nice graphic, I hope they keep it coming!!

Ugh I really hope Theiro is just testing out the portal for money reasons, so can see his worth. Then UK can offer something similar to keep him. He is a guy that I think could be a star player next year. 

11 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

I watch these sweet 16 games and the difference in level of play on defense shows how far off UK was from being able to compete with these teams. Every team I saw tonight, winners and losers, would have beaten UK. But I watched less than a minute of San Diego St, so maybe UK would have had a chance against them.

Alabama is was ranked worst defensively than UK I believe this year, but yet Bama is now in the elite 8. Then UNC, is also a team UK had already shown they can beat. So I do think there was a few teams they could have beaten that played last night. It just would have depended on who. 

5 hours ago, barrel said:

He was let go by Carroll Co. 

Ok thank you, I didn’t realize that. 

I know Justin Franklin just got the Scott job. However, he is a Carroll County guy, any chance he would return? Or was there a reason why he left before? 

I think this will end up being a great hire for Louisville. 

I have no idea if he would be interested or not. However, a good young coach that I believe could be a good hire if he is looking to be a head coach is Dan Penick. I could be wrong but I believe he teaches at Holmes right now, and has been an assistant basketball coach at Ludlow first under Dan Sullivan and now Aaron Stamm. He is a guy I believe would connect really well with the players and would get players out. 

2 hours ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

Hard to dispute data.

4 hours ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

Yeah, she was, doesn’t matter HOW or WHY she won the SEC tournament, what really matters is she DID IT!!  Yes, she had a great player, Cal had the National Player of the year and didn’t win a SEC tournament, both won 1 NCAA tournament game, Elzy was 8-3 in SEC tournament in those 4 years, Cal, 1-4, everything else was fairly even so in my opinion the SEC tournament success compared to Cal’s makes her more successful during that time span.

Thank you I was hoping you would say that it is hard to dispute data. So you want to talk about data? Yet you then say everything else was fairly even? 😂🤣

As mentioned in her 4 years her overall record was 61 and 60, so one game above .500. Her conference record was 23 and 40. So 17 games below 500. Her finishes in the conference was 5th, 7th, 12th and 13th. So a few of those tournament wins came while having to play right away. Then two tournament appearances, with the one only coming because of the one great 4 day stretch she had to win it. Which definitely credit to her for that. 
 

Calipari during the last 4 years overall record was 80 and 46. So 34 games above 500, not just one game like her. Calipari conference record during the last 4 years was 47 and 24. So 23 games above 500, not 17 games below 500 like her in conference. His finished in the season  was 8, 2, 3, and 2. So much better regular season finishes in conference too. Then same with overall rankings.  Plus 3 tournament appearances, not just 2. But yeah the rest you chose to leave out was about even 😂🤣. 
 

If Calipari had the exact same record as she has had the last 4 years, he definitely would be fired right now and wouldn’t be back. His last 4 years was not good, but doesn’t mean hers was better. You wonder why you all always get so many comments back, it’s because some of you all are so over the top with your Cal takes, that can’t even have normal discussions. Because one thing we all would agree on, is the last 4 years hasn’t been good enough and it must change. 

Anyone hearing any possible candidates for this job?

1 hour ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

Yeah, she was, doesn’t matter HOW or WHY she won the SEC tournament, what really matters is she DID IT!!  Yes, she had a great player, Cal had the National Player of the year and didn’t win a SEC tournament, both won 1 NCAA tournament game, Elzy was 8-3 in SEC tournament in those 4 years, Cal, 1-4, everything else was fairly even so in my opinion the SEC tournament success compared to Cal’s makes her more successful during that time span

Whatever man. 😂🤣😂🤣

5 hours ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

Probably will, unfortunately.  Even if Cal agrees to Mitch’s changes it’s not going to make him prepare better, be a better in game coach or not panic on the sidelines in big games

Ouch!!!  Just saw a comparison of Elzy’s 4 years at UK to Cal during the same time span, Elzy was BETTER!!  Again, OUCH!!

No she wasn’t. In her four years her overall record was 61 and 60. Her last two years she only won 12 games in both seasons. In conference play her record was 23 and 40. Her best regular season finish in conference was 5th, then 7th, 12th and 13th. She had the best player in woman’s basketball her first two years, and yet would have missed the tournament with the number one overall pick in the WNBA draft if it wasn’t for a miracle run in the SEC tournament. Just then to go lose in first round. The only thing better in that 4 year run, was that one lucky 4 day stretch in the SEC tournament with the best player in the country. 
 

Calipari had underachieved big time these last four years for what we expect from the men’s basketball team. However, even though he hasn’t been good. He has not need as bad as she was. 

IMO one of the most important guys to make sure doesn’t transfer is Theiro. He is a player that I believe is just going to keep getting better. He is the type of player Kansas usually has that is skilled, become star type players their junior and senior years. Theiro reminds me of a Gerald Fitch, Erick Daniels type player because they were key role players early on, and then became the best players once they were upper classman. 

1 hour ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

That D by Oakland was terrible 

What shocked me was, they didn’t watch any tape of it or work on it in practice how they wanted to attack it??

I am pretty sure you completely misunderstood what Sheppard met. Even the players after the game talked about how they were prepared for the zone. That even showed at the beginning of the game, when UK was easily getting in the middle of it down low and just kept missing bunnies. I am pretty sure what Sheppard met when he said that, was they had never seen that type of zone in a real game. It was the first time actually having to play against it. 

2 hours ago, Jumper_Dad said:

If Cal returns, my #1 suggestion would be to bring back John Robic. Apologize to him, do whatever it takes to bond that bridge so to speak and get Robic back.

 

If not him, then some kind of defensive focus guy like he did with the offense this past year. Robic not being here definitely hurt more than he probably ever thought. 
 

Keep Orlando, keep the new offensive minded guy, keep Ullis, and move on from Bruiser and Chin. Then possibly bring back both Payne and Robic and let’s see how it goes. 

12 hours ago, MJAlltheWay24 said:

I think that's what this year was for a large chunk of BBN. Even I said before the season, he has to make a run this season and he didn't.

Now I'm not clamoring for Kentucky to move on but it's why I just can't defend it anymore and if his time has come to an end, no belly aching from me.

Agreed. To me you move on as long as you know for sure you have a top guy that can come in and do well right away. If you don’t know for sure you can get that. Then you have to consider which thing would get the program turned around quicker. Giving Cal another year, or getting someone else and possibly take a little time to get going again if at all. 

12 hours ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

How many times did Cal have them pick them up full court like NC State did we let them walk it up and get into their sets and tried to guard Gohlke after he got the ball. I will give you they tried to guard more after hit the first 3 or 4 that were pretty open then he was in the zone.

The first 3 or 4 he hit were not pretty open. Even one of them he hit he was running to his left with a guy in his face and still made it. He only had about two made threes in the game that wasn’t really contested. One of them when he got Sheppard on a pump fake, and took one dribble to the left for a wide open three. Which as for NC State, it would have been interesting to see if NC state played that way if they didn’t have the benefit of seeing them go off on UK the day before. 
 

I mean I get it, some on here think every single thing Cal does is wrong.  Any mistake a player makes is Cal’s fault. Which there were definitely a good amount of games where Cal didn’t do great. I just don’t think this game was as much on him. 

Just now, MJAlltheWay24 said:

It's like they didn't win the last 8/9 SEC games, including big ones on the road.

Sure they sucked in the SEC tournament and obviously Thursday. But don't get the constant, "they didn't get any better all year."

They absolutely got better. Several individuals got quite a bit better even (e.g. Sheppard, Edwards, Theiro) and they got better as a team. They just completely fell flat when it mattered most, which is largely on Calirpari.

Honestly I rewatched the Oakland game, and I’m not sure what else Cal should have done. They were prepared well for the zone IMO, but simply missed a lot of layups and even dunks. Defensively he tried multiple defenders on that guy, even facing guarding him and the guy simply made some tough very contested shots including banking one in. Which I don’t think it was Cal’s fault that your star Freshman Sheppard and Dillingham both seemed to let the moment get to big for them. I know I definitely didn’t see that coming with Sheppard who had been so calm all year. However, he seemed anxious as can be and just throwing the ball around for many turnovers. Now obviously with how the team has failed the previous 3 years before this year, doesn’t help Cal’s cause at all. However, in regards to this game specially I’m not sure what else he should have done. Players have to make plays in this tournament, and besides for Reeves. The guys you thought you could count on didn’t perform. 

That was a fun game to watch. Taylor picked a bad game to have his worst shooting game of the season, or else they probably win. 

1 hour ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

The thing is guys, we can put together whatever team we want but it’s not gonna make Cal a better in game coach or keep him from panicking 

Here is the thing Cal honestly did great for the most part from the time he got here till the season when Covid cancelled the NCAA tournament. He always had his teams playing its best come tournament time, he had teams that beat higher seeded teams in the tournament. Beat top seeded OSU in 2011.  Out coached Pitino in the sweet 16 in 2014 when Pitino had the better team. However, all that seemed to change after Covid cancelled the 2020 tournament. Then had the horrible season during the Covid year, much like coach K was horrible that year too. However Cal that horrible season, then having player in Clarke get killed in a car crash. Calipari just has never seemed to get his mojo back after that year and all that transpired. Before all that all the buttons he seemed to push would work. However, since then nothing he has done really has worked. Especially in regards to the tournament. Which he may not ever be able to get that mojo back while here. 
 

Coach K had a similar rough run from 2005 to 2009 when he had a first and second round exit, and no better than a sweet 16 in those 5 years. So not quite as bad as the last 4 years here. However, would have had people very upset in those 5 years with those results. Then coach K from 2012 to 2014 lost in the first round to a 15 seed and a 14 seed too. So even the best coach of all time has had tough stretches. Only difference is after those tough few years for coach K, he then would follow it up with a championship. That is why next year has to be a make or break type year for Cal. I think all parties on both sides have to know going into it, that things have to get back on track next year or else time to part ways. 

19 minutes ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

4 1/2 months and that team never got a bit better, that’s definitely on the coach when that happens 

I disagree that the team didn’t get better.  This team was playing its best basketball of the season over the last couple weeks  before the SEC tournament started. Then I don’t know if moment got to big for them, but then disappeared when it mattered most. 

1 hour ago, sportsfan41 said:

I'd love to see UK find that in the portal but I'd be completely shocked if they did.  Reeves was an elite scorer that was really over looked this year in my opinion. 

Every year there are kinds of players entering the portal. Especially players like how Reeves was at a smaller school, wanting a chance to play in the spot light. Same with the star Tennessee got this year from a smaller school. So I do think there will be guys like that to be had in the portal. Which with the new NIL should help their chances at getting a guy like that. With how things are now, money talks. 

2 minutes ago, sportsfan41 said:

No matter who is on the court for Kentucky next year, they will miss Reeves. I think he was MVP for his team by far in terms of offense. 

Agreed. He became a true three level scorer. That is why I think he needs to hit the portal to find a veteran guard like that.